Botswana has received accolades for using funds from US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) well. Visiting US Global AIDS Coordinator Mark Dybul praised Botswana saying the country's good work is evident in the results and the national coverage of such programmes as provision of ARV and Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT).

This year alone, Botswana received funding from PEPFAR to the tune of P343 million for a comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care programme. Dybul said they would continue to support Botswana, which is one of the 15 PEPFAR focus countries. The five-year PEPFAR is a $15 billion (P95 billion) global initiative by the US government to combat HIV/AIDS in over 120 countries around the world.

Dybul had come to Botswana to witness the roll-out of a new national programme of early infant diagnosis and testing. He described the new initiative as a wonderful programme that aims to get more children living with HIV to start treatment before they become ill. The diagnosis can be done as early as six weeks after the birth. The programme employs a new technique for detecting HIV infection in infants and ensures early initiation of ARV treatment and other care for HIV-infected infants. Although PMTCT has reduced transmission by 80 percent in Botswana, some children still get infected and at two years, half of them die. Dybul said the new programme gives hope for the HIV-exposed infants. He explained that he did not know of any other country with a similar programme in Africa. Previously young children were tested for HIV at 18 months and the approach was inadequate for programme monitoring and clinical purposes because of the long wait.

Dybul emphasised prevention and stated that with a change in behaviour, there would be no need for treatment. He said change in behaviour is a personal responsibility and knowing ones status is imperative for a healthier life. He said that although a lot has been done in the fight against AIDS more can be done. "AIDS isn't going anywhere and ARV is not a cure," he said.